Finally!!

Most likely the last post for my senior year and overall a great year. Finished senior project on drag racing which really helped me get  into upgrading cars. I hope in the future to build  my own cars and eventually go to school become an engineer and build the worlds cars. Starting my journey at Citrus Community College where I will later transfer to Cal Poly Pomona to study Mechanical Engineering whit an emphasis on Automotive Engineering. Also as of this summer I will begin to build one of my many dream cars to make a name for myself in the automotive industry. Within a few years I hope to have a recognizable car that will catch the attention of very experienced automotive builders and engineers.

Blog 23: Final Lesson Reflection

(1) Positive Statement

What are you most proud of in your block presentation and/or 

your senior project? Why?

Most Proud of the unique topic I choose, it really was interesting to people.

(2) Questions to Consider
a.     What assessment would you give yourself on your block presentation (self-assessment)?

AE

b.     What assessment would you give yourself on your overall senior project (self-assessment)?

AE

(3) What worked for you in your senior project?

Activity really made people talk to each other and really analyze what it takes to modify a car.

(4) (What didn't work) If you had a time machine, what would you have done differently to improve your senior project if you could go back in time?

Maybe would have shortened up my lecture, since it was 1 hour I could have had time for extra activities rather than having such a long lecture.

(5) Finding Value
How has the senior project been helpful to you in your future endeavors?   Be specific and use examples.


Really opened up opportunities I have so much more kowledge about cars and the new technology and in the future i want to integrate these things into future cars. I want to be an automotive engineer and design future cars and by knowing everything that is out there I can design future cars at a better quality. 

Blog 22: Mentorship

    Literal

Complete.

Greg Peterson, Peterson Piping Racing

    Interpretive

Gained important knowledge and hands on experience, basically learning how to prepare a drag car from fueling up, charging batteries, to airing tires. Very important because it's something that you can read about but reading about it does not insure you do it right. 

   Applied

What iv'e done helped me answer my EQ because it is something that lets you see cars perform and  fail at the track. It allows you to see the cars that are well put together and the ones that do not run so smoothly. With this you can see what works well in a car, helping you build your car.

Blog 21: Exit Interview

1. What is your essential question and what are your 

answers? What is your best answer and why?

EQ: What is the best way to build a drag racing car, that can consistently win races?

A1: Using power adders and modifications with proper studies and testing.

A2: Power adders, testing and modifying of the weaker components.

A3: Complete engine rebuild with modifications, powerglide transmission swap and differential gear change.

Answer one is my best answer because the biggest part of building a car is studying and knowing what you are doing, it is important to choose the right parts for a car although they may seem simple they can really impact the final outcome.

2. What process did you take to arrive at this answer?

Extensive research, videos, books, and interviews. Importance of automotive knowledge was included in most of my sources.

3. What problems did you face?  How did you resolve them?

Had problems researching since their is only so much that can be done to a car. To solve the problem I began searching for the small parts that don't seem important but can be crucial for success such as bolts and engine oils.

4. What are the two most significant sources you used to 

answer your essential question and why?

The two more significant sources are articles from Hot Rod Magazine and Dragzine. My two most significant sources since they are a very trusted source which is well developed, both companies have tv shows testing facilities, scientists, and mechanics all devoted to the automobile. For basic drag racing knowledge my most significant source was a book "The Fast Lane" by Wally Parks which was published by NHRA, the leader in all things related to drag racing.

Future Plans

Now that I am getting to a bigger better part of my life I have decided the car that I would like to build. It is a Lexus is300 with a 2jz which is a 3.0 engine and I would like to add aftermarket turbos from precision turbo, most likely 88mm. I'd pretty much add all the little features but I basically I want a turbo 2jz.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0g5kxH9yG-U

The car in the video is a 2jz is300 with a 94mm turbo with a Powerglide transmission and runs seven seconds on the track and if i build my car right i should be in the 9 second range.

Blog 19: Independent Component 2

LITERAL
(a) “I, student name Victor Gamboa, affirm that I completed my independent component which represents 34 hours of work.”
(b) Mentor: Victor M. Gamboa basic mechanic and transmission builder for 18+ years for Young's Transmissions and DPA Transmissions. 
(d) Over the past months I have practiced doing hands on work learning and doing things on my own. Lots of basic maintenance like tune ups and part replacements. Getting familiar with more tools and boosting confidence working on  car. 
INTERPRETIVE  
Learned skills that no book can teach, hands on experience on real cars. Learning tricks and how components work, fail and why they fail. Observing what parts look like when they do fail and knowing how to prevent them from failing again. Basically get a car that is failing or to some people completely worthless and make it perfect again.  
APPLIED
Helped answer EQ because the "constantly win races" used in my EQ can only be solve by basic maintenance and constant inspection, and the only way to inspect and be able to maintain a car is to know what a good and bad part looks like. Also learn to replace parts that will be crucial in racing, and knowing how to substitute them is something very useful for the future.

Blog 18: Fourth Interview Questions

1. What car do you drive and what have you done to it?
2. Do you have any other goals for the car, if so how will you accomplish them?
3. What car or type of car would you recommend for someone to turn into a drag car?
4. Tube chassis or stock chassis and why?
5. Would you recommend fabricating a roll cage as an owner or is it better to get it made?
6.  In you’re opinion would you recommend a turbo, twin turbo, blower, or nitrous oxide system for a car?
7. What brand Turbo, Blower or Nitrous System would you recommend? Why? 
8. With the previous decision what other upgrades would you recommend adding with the Turbo, Blower, or Nitrous Oxide system?
9. Also for a potential drag build what engine would you recommend and, why?
10. What types of engine component upgrades would you recommend? Or for the beginning of a build which upgrades would you recommend first?
11. What ignition system and spark plugs are the most reliable on the track?
12. In your experience what transmission would you say works the best with this?
13. Their is also option of clutch-less transmissions and regular 2 speeds do you think the difference is really worth the money?
14. What do you recommend for rims and tires?why?
15. What size tires would you say work best? Is the biggest tire possible really the best bet for hooking better?
16. Rear end gear ratio that you would say works best?
17. Do you recommend any specific brand gauges or specific style that have worked better for you?
18. Do shifter brands matter or are all shifters similar for the most part?
19. Are racing shoes better to use or are they just a luxury some racers like to have?
20. What are the best options for weight reduction on a track car?
21.  Are their any other upgrades a drag car needs that a first time builder wouldn't regularly know?

Blog 17: Third Answer

• What is the best way to build a drag racing car, that can consistently win races?

• Complete engine rebuild with modifications, Powerglide transmission swap, and differential gear change.

• 3 Details to support answer

• Engine improvement is crucial for maximum power for the lowest weight. Bore a 350 ci engine to 383 ci for the same weight making over 100 more horsepower.
• Less time shifting equals more time going faster. keeping high rpms allows for the engine to pull out more power in shorter time.
• Bigger gears means higher speeds. Takes more power to get the car moving but when it moves it moves much faster.

• Sources
• Hotrod Magazine, Dragzine, Superchevy, Dragstuff.com

Drag Racing Season Begins!

Winners of 2015 Winter nationals.

Pro mod and street car drags have yet to kick off.

Blog 16: Answer 2

1. What is your EQ?

What is the best way to build a drag racing car, that can consistently win races?

2. What is your first answer? (In complete thesis statement format)

Using power adders and modifications with proper studies and testing.

3. What is your second answer? (In complete thesis statement format)

Power adders, testing and modifying of the weaker components.

4. List three reasons your answer is true with a real-world application for each? 

In real life these cars need power adders to make enough power to be successful in racing competitions.

When these cars cram out as much power as they can handle crucial components begin to give out so you must replace them.

Without testing your engine components may fail during a race making you loose competitions.

5. What printed source best supports your answer?

Wally Parks, The Fast Lane

6. What other source supports your answer?

Super Chevy Magazine
Car Craft Magazine
Hot Rod Magazine

7. Tie this tougher with concluding thought.  

Car must be modified and tested so the weak parts are eliminated and the most power can be taken out from the car.

Blog 15: Independent Component 2 Approval

1. Describe in detail what you plan to do for your 30 hours.

Plan to continue rebuilding transmissions and hoping to get to put mentorship hours with a engine builder. Basically help and rebuild transmissions and engines with the help of experts in the field.

2. Discus how or what you will do to meet the expectation of showing 30 hours of evidence. 

Maybe take photos of some of the work done and some of the cars repaired or improved.

3. Explain how this component will help you explore your topic more in depth. 

Help me be ready to make a car more reliable and to upgrade parts to create more power.

Blog 14: Independent Component 1

LITERAL 

a) "I, Victor Gamboa, affirm that I completed my independent component which represents 48 hours of work"
b) Mentor: Victor M. Gamboa transmission builder for 18 years at Young's Transmission and DPA Transmissions.
d) Over the corse of 48 hours rebuilt 2 transmissions and replaced an engine. Help with the basics first handing off tools slowly made my way to being able to join transmission and engine and small task like clean parts and open basic parts of a transmission. Also work testing an engine.\

INTERPRETIVE

Learned skills that no book can teach, hands on experience with the real cars. Learning tricks and how components work and why they fail. Observing what parts look like when they do fail and knowing how to prevent them from failing again. Basically get a car that is failing or to some people completely worthless and make it perfect again and perhaps solve the problem for good.

APPLIED

Helps me understand foundations of my topic because they are just that. working on cars not quite the same as performance cars from my topic gives me a view of basic fundamentals and your really cant upgrade a car properly unless you understand what you are upgrading. In some cases racing parts are more simple than that of modern cars for the road but it helps to have a better understating of that part. In other cases it is good to be able to tell a problem of a car by the noise which is only obtainable from experience, which I soon will have. Basically what I'm saying is I am working my way up the car chain and to work on expensive race cars you need to know your way up and down a regular car.

Blog 13: Lesson 2 Reflection

1. What are you most proud of in your lesson 2 Presentation and why?

I am most proud of the overall flow of my presentation and the way people understood my topic and learned from my presentation, things they may or may not use in the future.

2a. What assessment would you give yourself on your lesson 2 presentation (self-assessment)?

P

2b. Explain why you deserve that grade using evidence from the lesson 2 component contract.

I used all my time effectively and used props throughout the lesson. I also maintained well explanation of my answer throughout my presentation.

3. What worked for you in your lesson 2?

Out of all the things i did I think the props really helped the presentation and keep the audience engaged.

4. What didn't work? I you had a time machine, what would you have done differently to improve your lesson 2?

My activity did not work out exactly as I planned, if I had a time machine I probably would try making my activity a bit more engaging or interesting.
5. What do you think your answer 2 will be?

A reliable car tested and tuned before every race.

Blog 12: Mentorship 10 Hours Check

1. Where are you doing your Mentorship?

I'm doing my mentorship with a weekend races, who competes with other racers in competitions for money. I go around with him racing either in Irwindale, Fontana, Pomona, or San Diego depending on where the competitions are.

2. Who is your contact?

Contact is Greg Peterson

3. How many total hours have you done?

Total of 26 hours.

4. Summarize the 10 hours of service you did.

Over the hours I help prepare the car by checking tire pressure, fuel, and warming the car up before the first race. Also cooling the car down after every race, registering for races, safety inspections, and check out other cars and parts up for sale.  

Holiday Project Update

1. It is important to consistently work on your senior project, wether it is break or we are in school. What did you do over break with your senior project? 

Unfortunately their is no major drag racing events in the area to attend so not many people race this season, including my mentor. Wether or not I need research or not over break I read up and informed myself on many automotive power adders. Over break I focused my research specifically on Turbos since it is what I believe the best potential answer for my EQ.

2. What was the most important thing you learned from what you did, and why? What was the source of what you learned?

The most important thing I learned was tuning your car, I still do not have the skills to tune a car iI learned the power of it over break. As some racers explain you can have all the power in the world but if you cant transfer it to the ground its all wasted. I also learned lots of factors like every car has different sweet spots, like for example some cars can only handle 15 Psi of boost while other cars can push the 45 psi range and in some cases the car with the lower boost psi wins the race, which shows how its all  in the little adjustments made by computer tuning.

3. If you were going to do a 10 question interview on questions related too answers related to answers related to your EQ, who would you talk to and why?

If I had the opportunity to talk to anyone I would talk to Dom "The Snake" Prudhomme because he has been in the racing industry before it was an industry. Few people his age continue to be on the top of drag racing. Throughout his years he has tried every single set up one can possibly think of, is one of the top names in drag racing, and has a modern race team that still competes today. Since he went up in the racing industry he should be able to give the best option for a race car that fits my budget.